Street-sweeper



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 11. W. FRANZ. STREET SWEEPER.

Patented June 7, 1898.

we uonms PcTms so. PHORHJTMOY. msuwm'on. u. c

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. FRANZ. STREET SWEEPER.

Patented June 7,1898.

m: umwls PETERS co. mmoilwow WASHtNGTON, u. c.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

W. FRANZ. STREET SWEEPER.

No. 605,415. Patented June 7,1898.

m: Norms PETERS m. wom-Lmcoq WASHINGTON u. c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. W. FRANZ.

STREET SWEEPER.

Patented June 7, 1898.

I lUNllTED STATE PATENT rmon.

WVILLIAM FRANZ, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO THE IMPROVED STREET SWVEEPER COMPANY, OF

PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

. STF iEETf- SWEEPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,415, dated June1898.

Application filed November 2 7,l897. $eria1No.659,964. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM FRANZ, a citi- Zen of the UnitedStates,residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPenn sylvania, have invented a new and useful 1mprovement inStreet-Sweepers; and .I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to street-sweepers. The main object of myinventionis to provide a street-sweeper which will sweep while turning around orin turning corners of streets and at the same time will allow the broomto sweep all ruts and crevices in the streets.

Afurther object of my invention is to provide such a form of broom aswill prevent any dust or sweepings being swept out to the ends of saidbroom.

My invention consists, generally stated, in the novel construction,arrangement, and combination of parts, as hereinafter more specificallyset forth and described, and particularly pointed out in the claims. 2 5To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains toconstruct and use the sweeper, I will describe the same .more fully,referring to the accompanying drawings, in which i 0 Figure 1 is a sideview of my improved street-sweeper, showing the parts in their normalposition and the broom in position for sweeping. Fig. 2 is a top or planview of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central sec- 5 tion of thesame on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical central section ofthe same at right angles to Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail section on theline 5 5, Fig. 4, showing the mechanism for driving the broom. Fig. 6 isa like view on the line 6 6, Fig. 4, showing the gearing mechanism. Fig.7 is :a detail section of the clutch and operating means on the line 77, Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the-line 8 8,Fig. (3. Fig. 9 is 5 a detail view of the endof the axle. Fig. 10

is a detail sectional view showing the manner of attaching the splintsto the broom. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal central section of one end ofthe broom. Fig. 12 is a'vertical 1 1 central section of the broom on theline 12 12, Fig. 11; and Fig. 13 is a detail view of a portion of thebroom.

Like letters herein indicate like parts in each of the figures of thedrawings.

My improved street-sweeper is provided with an axle A,upon which areloosely mounted the two driving-wheels B, and between the spokes b oneach wheel is an oil-pipel) for the passage of lubricant to the axle A)The spokes b on each wheel B are clamped together by means of plates b band the plates b are provided with a sleeve b which encircles the axleA. A tank 0 is preferably counterbalanced and is rigidly secured to theaxle A between the wheels Bby means of the collar 0 on each sidethereof, and the tank 0 is provided with an opening 0 therein. Fittingaround the axle A are the circular con-- veyer-frames d, which arelocated on the outside and oneach side of the tank O and are providedwithsleeves d thereon for engaging with said axleA. Buckets D aresecured to the conveyer-frames cl and pass over and across the tank 0,being secured to lugs or flanges d on the inner faces of the outer edgesof the frames d. Between thewheels B and fitting over and around thetank 0 and buckets D is the casing E,which is secured around the axle Aand has a rear portion E extending over a broom F, located in the rearof the axle A and operated therefrom, as hereinafter described. Thecasing E is supported at its rear by means of the wheel 6, which isadapted to turn at will and in any direction and is secured between theforksle on the end of a shaft 6 which passes up through bearings esecured to said casing E, and is held therein by means of the nut 6secured on the upper end thereof and fitting against a plate 6 securedto the casing E. A spiral spring 6 is secured around the vertical shafta between the bearings e to allow the wheel e to take up any unevennessin the streets, the. The casing E is provided on its bottom with aswinging portion or door G,which covers a portion of the opening 0 inthe casing E and carries atits rear end the apron g, which is preferablyformed of rubber and is secured to the door G in any suitable manner.The door G is supported on each side in the swinging frames 9 securedthereto on the outside of the casing E, and the frames g are pivoted attheir upper ends to a rodg extending across the casing E, on the upperexterior surface thereof. Levers g are pivoted to the swinging frames gat g and are pivoted to levers g, which are pivoted at their oppositeends around a shaft g which extends across the exterior surface of thecasing E and has a lever g secured thereto, which is operated by meansof a rod 9 connected to its oppositeend and extending back tothe rearofthe sweeper.

Two sets of gearing mechanism for operating the broom F are shown, oneon each side of the sweeper between the wheels B and the casing E, as atH, and each set has gear-wheels h, rigidly secured to the sleeves b onthe plates 12 secured to the wheels B. The gearwheels h are adapted tomesh with pinions h, mounted on shafts 71 supported in the forked frames7L3, which are loosely mounted around the axle A and sleeves b and arealso loosely mounted at their opposite ends around sleeves F on thebroom F. Gear-wheels 71 are keyed or rigidly-secured to each of thesleeves b and are adapted to mesh with pinions 72 rigidly secured onshafts h, supported in brackets 71. secured to the casing E. Pinions hare rigidly secured to the shafts 72. and are adapted to engage withgear-wheels h loosely mounted around the sleeves d on the bucketframesd. The gear-wheels 77. are provided on the interior thereof withratchet-wheels 71 9, which are keyed or rigidly secured to the sleeves don the bucket-frames d, and pawls h 'are adapted to engage with theratchetwheels h which are held in place or engagement by means ofsprings 71 between the pawls h and the inner face of the gear-wheels 71The ratchet-wheels h and pawls 77. are held within the gear-Wheels h bymeans of clamping-plates 7e which are bolted to the gear-wheels h bymeans of bolts h and are loosely mounted around the sleeves d of theframes 01. The broom F is connected to the two gearing mechanisms Habove described by means of sprocket-chains f, which pass aroundsprocket-wheels f, rigidly mounted on the shafts 77, in the forkedframes 77. and the sprocket-wheels f rigidly secured to sleeves f whichsurround the shafts f of the broom F. Secured to the shafts f of thebroom F are the 1'atchet-wheelsf ,which are adapted to be engaged bypawls f mounted upon the bolts f which secure the clamping-plates f andthe cup-shaped flanges f formed on the ends of the sleeves f andextending over the pawlsf together. The shafts f are provided withcup-shaped endsf for confining the perforated hollow shaft f formed insemicircles,

and the solid wooden shaft f therein. The splints f on the broom F areformed of metal, preferably of steel, and are passed through theperforations f in the hollow shaft from oneto the other through thespace f be tween the hollow shaft f and the wooden shaft f and are heldtogether and against 70 displacement by bolts f passing through theshafts f5 and f. The splints f are placed through the perforations f atan angle as shown in Fig. 13, for a short distance from each end of thebroom F in order to drive all the dirt or sweepings into the center ofthe broom F, so that they can be swept into the tank 0 and will not beliable to be thrown out to the side of the broom F.

Mounted around the axle A, on each side thereof, between the wheels Band the gearwheels h, are the clutches i, which are provided withengaging faces 1" thereon for engaging with engaging faces 2' on thegear-wheels h,

'and the clutchesi are providedvwith annularseats i on their exteriorsurfaces, with which projections 2' on the ends of crank-arms i securedto inclined shafts i, are adapted to engage for operating the clutchesi. The two inclined shafts 1J extend upwardly toward the 0 rear of thesweeper and are supported in bearings' i secured on .each side of thecasing E. An upwardly-extending arm i is secured on the end of one ofthe inclined shafts 1L, and

a downwardly-extending arm 2' is secured on 5 the end of the otherinclined shaft i A bar 71 extends across the exterior of the casing Eand connects the free ends of the arms 2' and t and a handle or lever iis secured on the arm 2' for convenience in operating the clutches 2'.

- Mounted in bearings j on a platform 7' in the rear of the sweeper andsupported on the casing E is the shaft j, which is provided with thearms j secured at each end thereof, hav- 10 ing forked ends 3' forengaging with a rod 7' passing down on each side of the casing E andbeing pivotally mounted around a bar j, secured in each of the forkedframes h The rods 7 are pivoted within the forked ends 7' on the arms jby means of the pivot-pins jl, mounted within the forked ends andsecured within a sleeve j fitting around the rods The rods f are held inplace within the sleeves j by means of a nut j", engaging [15 with theupper ends of the rods 9' and a spiral springj is secured around each ofthe rods between the sleeves j and a collar removably secured aroundeach of said rods 3' Secured to the shaftj is the segmental 12o providedwith a flanged portion Z therein, 1 0

having a seat Z therein for the reception of an angle-bar m, which isheld therein by means'of bolts Z The angle-bars m extend out to thefront of the sweeper and are re- An operating-wheel k is se- 12 5 casingE at any time.

movably secured by means of bolts m to a cross-bar a, located in frontof the wheels B, said bolts m having handle-nuts m secured thereto. Thebolts have elongated heads m thereon, working through slotted holes orin thecross-bar a. The cross-bar n is supported by means of braces nsecured to the casing E and acts to have the tongue oi shafts 0 securedthereto for hauling the sweeper. A seat 19 for the operator-is securedon the end of a spring supporting-bar p, whichis connected to' theplatform j in the rear of the sweeper, and a door q is hinged to the topof the casing E, over an opening q therein, for an examination of thetank or interior of the Rubber strips 1' are secured to the buckets Dand bear against the tank 0, and rubber strips 5 are secured on thebucket-frames cl d to bear against the sides of the tank 0 to preventthe lodging of obstacles between the tank 0, buckets D, and

frames (l (1 during the revolution of the buckets D. If desired, slottedholes can be formed in the bars at at right angles to the slotted holesn in the cross-bar m for allowing play or movement of these parts.

The operation of my improved streetsweeper is asfollows: WVhen it isdesired to use the machine to sweep and the broom F is lowered againstthe street-surface, the operator grasps the lever i and throws the same,to the right, which, through the bar t will turn the inclined shafts 2'and throw the clutches i into engagement with the gearwheels h on theaxle A. As themachine is hauled the driving-wheels B will revolve andturn the gear-wheels h, which are meshing,

with the pinions h on the shafts h in the forked frames h and will actto turn sprocketwheels f on said shafts 7L2, and through thesprocket-chainsf,engaging with the sprocket wheelsf and thesprocket-wheels] on the shafts f of the broom F, will act to revolve;the broom F to sweep the dirt or other material onto the buckets D asthey are revolved. By the movement of the gear-wheels 72 the gear-wheelsit are revolved,and,meshing with the pinions 7L5 on the shafts h, willact to turn the pinions 7L8 on the shafts h, which, meshing with thegear-wheels 71,", will revolve the buckets D, secured to thebucket-frames (I; through the ratchet-wheels h being 0011- nected to thegear-wheels h by their pawls h, and the ratchet-wheels h being rigidlyconnected to the sleeves d on the frames (1. i As the buckets D arerevolved over the tank 0, the dirt or other sweepings thrown up bythebroom F will be caught by the buckets D and deposited in the tank '0,through its opening 0 when the buckets D pass over the opening 0 of thetank 0.

WVhen the broom F is in operation, the sweepings will be insured to passon to the buckets D by the apron g on the swinging door G, which comesin contact and drags on the street, so as to prevent the dirt or othersweepings from being thrown forward of the broom .F; \Vhen the tank 0has been sufficiently filled with sweepings and it is desired to dumpthe same, all that is necessary is to grasp the rod g and pull the sameback or rearward, which will turn the shaft g and through the levers gand lever will raise the door G, on account of its swinging frames gbeing pivoted around the rod 9 The handle-nuts m are then unscrewedsufficiently from the bolts m and the heads m 011 the bolts m turned soas to pass through the slots a in the cross-bar a, so releasing theangle-bars m from the cross-bar a, when the angle-bars m can be raisedby the operators and the tank 0 turned backward, which will allow thedirt or sweepings to pass out of the tank 0 through the opening 0therein and through the opening a in the casing E onto the street ordumping-place, as desired.

After the sweepings are removed fromthe tank 0 it can be returned toplace by pulling down on the an- I gle-bars m and connecting them tocross-bar a by passing the headed bolts on through the slots n in thecross-bar n and screwing down the handle-nuts m against the bars m. Thedoor G can then be returned to place over the opening 6 in the casing Eby pushing forward the rod 9, which will allow the swinging frames g toswing back on the rod g through the levers g and gflbeing pivotswivelpivoted joint, are permitted torise with the forkedarms 7' and soraisethe broom F. The broom F can be lowered by reversing theoperating-wheel 70 and with it the worm-wheel It on upright shaft 75 andgearwheel is on the shaft j, so lowering the forked arms j and rods andpermitting the lowering of the broom F, connectedtl1ereto.

In case it is desired that the broom Foperate and sweep in turningcorners, the outer ratchet-wheel h on the aXle A and the outerratchet-wheel f on the broom F will revolve to operate the buckets D andbroom F, while the inner ratchet-wheel h on the aXle A and the innerratchet-wheelf on the broom F will revolve or turn backward, and theirpawls h and f, respectively, will slip over the ratchetwheels in orderto allow the gearing mechanism on the inner side of the sweeper toremain stationary, while the gearing mechanism on the outer side of thesweeper is operating the broom F and conveys bucketsD, so that thesweeper will relieve itself in turning corners or around either tothe'right or left. It is evident that the gearing mechanisms shown at Hand the ratchet mechanism on the broom F may be used on any form ofsweeper for permitting the broom F to operate in turning corners oraround without the use of the tank C, conveyer-buckets D, or the casingE.

tion, as well as to obtain speed and make the broom work easier, and bythe gearing mechanism H being connected to the conveyerbuckets D itenables the conveyer to be driven evenly and obtain the speed desired.

It also enables the power to be directed on the horses evenly and tomake the conveyer work true at all times.

It will thus be seen that my improved sweeperis cheap and simple in itsconstruction and operation and that the broom will always operate tosweep in turning corners and will not necessitate the raising of thesame in order to allow the machine to be hauled around corners. Thebroom can be rapidly and easily raisedat any and all times when desiredwithout any great force exerted or application of strength. Thesweepings will always be thrown into the buckets from the broom and willbe carried thereby and deposited into the tank, and when the tank isfilled it can be dumped quickly and easily and returned to place withoutany great strength or complicated mechanism. The broom can be easily andrapidly operated by the gearing mechanism, the parts will not get out oforder, and the streets will be cleanly and evenly swept by the machine.

The machine is light, strong, and durable, and practical experience withit has proven it to be a useful and practical sweeper and one that willreduce the cost of labor, time, and expense in this kind of work.

Various modifications in the construction and design of the variousparts of the machine may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is+

1. In a street-sweeper, the combination of an axle,supporting anddriving wheels loosely mounted around the axle, a casing supportedaround the axle, a tank or dirt-receptacle rigidly secured to the axle,a conveyer between the casin g and the tank carrying buckets thereon, arotatable broom adjustably mounted in the rear of the axle, connectionsfrom the driving wheels to the rotatable broom, and gearing mechanismconnected to the driving-wheels and to gear-Wheels loosely mountedaround the axle and rigidly connected to the conveyer, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

2. In a street-sweeper, the combination of an axle, supporting anddriving wheels loosely mounted around the axle, a casing supportedaround the axle, a tank or dirt-receptacle rigidly secured to the axle,a conveyer between the casing and the tank carrying buckets thereon, arotatable broom adj ustably mounted in the rear of the axle, connectionsfrom the driving wheels to the rotatable broom, gearing mechanismconnected to the driving-wheels and adapted to operate gearwheelsloosely mounted around the axle, and

ratchet-wheels having pawls engaging therewith connected to saidgear-wheels and rigidly connected to the conveyer'or frame,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a street-sweeper, the combination of an axle, supporting anddriving wheels loosely mounted around the axle, a casing supportedaround the axle, a tank or dirt-receptacle rigidly secured to the axle,a conveyer between the casing and tank carrying buckets thereon, arotatable broom adj ustably mounted in the rear of the axle, connectionsfrom the driving-wheels to the rotatable broom,

gear-wheels connected to the driving-wheels and meshing with pinionsmounted on shafts supported on said casing, pinions. on said shafts andmeshing with gear-wheels loosely mounted around the axle, andratchet-wheels having pawls engaging therewith connected to saidlast-named gear-Wheels and rigidly connected to the conveyer,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a street-sweeper, the combination of an axle, supporting anddriving wheels loosely mounted around the axle, a casing supportedaround the axle, a tank or dirt-receptacle rigidly secured to said axle,a conveyer-frame between the casing and tank carrying buckets thereon, arotatable broom adj ustably mounted in the rear of said axle,connections from the driving-wheels to the broom, a crossbar supportedby and in front of said casing, and bars removably secured to saidcross-bar and having collars thereon rigidly secured to the axle fordumping and holding the tank or dirt-receptacle in place, substantiallyas set forth.

5. In a street-sweeper, the combination of an axle, supporting anddriving wheels loosely mounted around the axle, a casing supportedaround the axle, a tank or dirt-receptacle rigidly secured to said axle,a conveyer-frame between the casing and tank carrying buckets thereon, arotatable broom adj ustably mounted in the rear of the axle, connectionsfrom the driving-wheels to the broom, a crossbar supported by and infront of said casing, bars removably secured to said cross-bar havingcollars thereon rigidly secured .to the axle, and bolts removablyconnected to the crossbars and bars for dumping and holding the tank ordirt-receptacle in place, substantially as set forth.

6. In a street-sweeper, the combination of an axle, supporting anddriving wheels loosely mounted around the axle, a casin g supportedaround the axle, a tank or dirt-receptacle rigidly secured to said axle,a conveyer-frame between the casing and tank carrying buckets thereon, arotatable broom adj ustably mounted in the rear of the axle, connectionsfrom the driving-wheels to the broom, a cross bar supported by and infront of said casing, bars removably secured to said cross-bar havingcollars thereon rigidly secured to the axle, slots in said cross-bars,and bolts removably connected to the cross-bars and bars havingelongated heads thereon engaging the said slots in the cross-bars fordumping andhold ing the tank or dirt-receptacle in place, substantiallyas set forth.

7. In a street-sweeper, the combination of an axle, supporting anddriving Wheels loosely mounted around the axle, a casing supportedaround the axle, a tank or dirt-receptacle rig: idly secured to saidaxle, a conveyer-frame between the casing and tank carrying bucketsthereon, a rotatable broom adj ustably mounted in the rear of the axle,connections from the driving-wheels to the broom, a crossbar supportedby and in front of said casing, bars removablysecured to said cross-barhavin g collars thereon rigidly secured to the axle, bolts removablyconnected to the cross-bar and bars having elongated heads thereonengaging with said slots in the cross-bar, and wrench-nuts engaging thesaid bolts for dum pin g and holding the tank or dirt-receptacle inplace, substantially as set forth.

S. In a street-sweeper, the combination of an axle, supporting anddriving wheels loosely mounted around the axle, a rotatable broommounted in the rear of the axle, connections from the driving-Wheels tothe broom, and

adjustable spring-rods secured to the said rotatable broom and pivotallyswiveled in sleeves pivoted in arms secured to a shaft supported abovethe rotatable broom, sub-- stantially as set forth.

9. In a street-sweeper, the combination of an axle, supporting anddriving wheels loosely mounted around the axle, a rotatable broommounted in the rear of the axle, connections from the driving-wheels tothe broom, adjustable spring-rods secured to said broom and pivotallyswiveled in arms secured to a shaft supported above the broom, and aworm gear-wheel on said shaft meshing with a worm on an upright shafthaving an operating-wheel thereon for raising and lowering the broom,substantially as set forth.

' 10. In a street-sweeper, the combination of an axle,supporting anddriving wheels loosely mounted around the axle, a casing supportedaround the axle and provided with an opening in the bottom thereof, atank or dirt-receptacle rigidly secured to said axle, a conveyer-framebetween the casing and tank carrying buckets thereon, a rotatable broomadjustably mounted in the rear of the axle, connections from thedriving-wheels to the broom, means on said axle for dumping and holdingthe tank in place, and a removable door pivoted to said casing andfitting over .around the axle and provided with an opening in the bottomthereof, a tank or dirt-receptaole rigidly secured to said axle, aconveyer-frame between the casing and tank carrying buckets thereon, arotatable broom adj ustably mounted in the rear of the axle, connectionsfrom the driving-wheels to the broom, means on said axle for dumping andholding the tank in place, a removable door pivoted to said casing andfitting over the opening'in the bottom of the casing to allow the tankto be emptied, and means connected to said door for raising and loweringthe same, substantially as set forth.

12. In a street-sweeper, the combination of an axle, supporting anddriving wheels loosely mounted around the axle, a casing supportedaround the axle and provided with an opening in the bottom thereof, atank or dirt-receptacle rigidly secured to said axle, a conveyer-framebetween the casing and tank carrying buckets thereon, a rotatable broomadj ustably mounted in the rear of the axle,

connections from the driving-wheels to the a broom, means on said axlefor dumping and holding the tank in place, a removable door pivoted tosaid casing and fitting over the opening in the bottom of the casing toallow the tank to be emptied, and a series of lovers pivoted to the doorand casing for raising and lowering the door, substantially as setforth.

13. In a street-sweeper, the combination of an axle, supporting anddriving wheels loosely mounted around the axle and provided with anopening in the bottom thereof, a tank or dirt-receptacle rigidly securedto said axle, a conveyer-frame between the casing and tank carryingbuckets thereon, a rotatable broom adj ustably mounted in the rear ofsaid axle, connections from the driving-wheels to the broom, means onsaid axle for dumping and holding the tankin place, a removable doorpivoted to said casing and fitting over the opening in the bottom of thecasing to allow the tank to be emptied, and a flexible apron secured tothe rear end of said removable, door to direct the sweepings into thebuckets, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said WILLIAM FRANZ, have hereunto-set myhand.

WILLIAM FRANZ.

ICC

